Page 15 of The Soul that Redeems Me
I shook my head. Andrew still blamed himself for what happened to Emily. The last thing I ever wanted to do was bring it up and upset him.
“That makes sense. He still thinks he could have stopped what happened. Hopefully, one day, he will forgive himself. Emily’s parents moved them just a few weeks after the attack. They probably tried to keep him as far away from the court proceedings as possible and since Emily never had to testify, he wouldn’t know anything other than the sentence is my guess.” His voice going lower as the coffee shop began to have more customers coming in for their breakfast. “From the report I saw, the guy was caught because Andrew memorized his license plate number and when they stopped him and searched his vehicle, they found…” He looked down and discreetly wiped his eyes before he went on, “They found blood and hair that they were able to match to the samples they took from her at the hospital. They matched DNA from her to him and he had defensive wounds on his face that matched the tissue under her nails. She fought hard and from the report, it says he threw her out of the car and drove off, hoping to make a clean getaway. The good thing about a small town, is there are only so many ways out, so he was apprehended and confessed to everything. He was sentenced a few months after the attack and has been serving his sentence peacefully until a couple of months ago.”
I felt the anger roared to life inside of me. Resisting the urge to punch something, I calmed myself enough to speak. “What changed a few months ago?”
“He was the black sheep of a wealthy family in Texas. He had a history of substance abuse and violent actions that his parents were able to keep swept under the rug in their tiny Texas town. They had been estranged, and when his parents found out about his incarceration earlier this year, they began to challenge the legal proceedings. They are trying to get his conviction overturned so that he can gain a new trial. They are saying the search was unlawful and have sent an appeal through the court system to have all the evidence thrown out. I have my lawyers fighting everything that they throw at them but I’m afraid a judge might grant the motion and if that’s the case, he may be free pending a new trial. If it goes to trial with no physical evidence, it’s a matter of he said/she said.”
“He said/she said?! She says nothing because she is so severely scarred, both mentally and physically over what he did to her. How can this happen, Jason? Can this piece of shit actually get a new trial?”
“He can if the appeal court agrees with the motions presented to them. The only way to ensure he stays in jail is for…”
“For her to testify in open court. Right?” I spat, sensing Emily isn’t strong enough to face the man who destroyed her sense of safety and shattered her innocence.
“Yes, or provide a detailed description, a victim impact statement to the judge overseeing his appeal but I am doing everything in my power to stop that from happening. I don’t want to talk to Andrew and Caroline about it since they just brought the baby home yesterday. Same with Maddie and Lucas. I wanted you to know and I needed to make sure that Emily is safe in case he is allowed to leave jail awaiting trial. I have found out he will have to wear an ankle monitor and stay within the specific county he is released into and that’s what has me nervous, I guess. I don’t want Emily to find out about his release unless it is absolutely necessary. I know you love her Josh and I know from personal experience that you are willing to do anything for the woman you love. I wanted you to have the information I have so that you can be better prepared for what may come at her.”
“Damn it. We will be doing the move within the next few weeks but I have trips planned for the next couple of months for the expansion. How am I supposed to leave her alone if he is out on the streets?” I asked Jason, hoping his experience would give me guidance.
“You hire an assistant to go get the contracts signed, and when you can’t, you take her with you. Plan your trips around her class schedule and make sure you are home with her at night. The building is secure and there are layers of protection around her, but you are the closest to her and I assume you will be getting closer as time goes on.” I nodded my head. “Then it’s settled. You go on with the plans for the moves and rearrange your trips out of town. I trust you, Josh, and if you need anything at all—time off, another assistant, whatever—you call me day or night. You and Emily are family to me and I take care of my own,” he replied as we stood from the table and made our way outside into the sunny and cool fall day.
“I’ll kill him before I let him get to her again. You understand that don’t you, Jason?” I tried, and failed, to keep the anger from my voice.
That sick bastard was trying to get out of jail and I’ll be damned if he ever gets to hurt Emily again.
“I know you will but, hopefully, it won’t come to that. Keep in close contact with me, Josh. I’ll let you know as soon as I know anything.”
He shook my hand and made his way toward his car as I sat at one of the tables on the sidewalk and thought of how hard this was going to be on Emily. I needed some perspective on how to handle this. Sending a text to my parents who have always given me the best advice, I let them know I was on my way back home with breakfast.
After speaking with my parents, we agree to say nothing to anyone until there is something to tell them. Giving them the possibilities without knowing the exact details can and will cause undue stress and hardship on the new families and Emily doesn’t need to look over her shoulder every time she leaves the apartment. She is just starting to open up to people and I’d do anything to keep her outlook positive and her life full of joy.
Even if I must keep secrets from her after I promised not to.
